Child Migration Crisis in the United States

You are here

Child Migration Crisis in the United States

Eduardo Perez/U.S. Customs and Border Protection

The number of unaccompanied children crossing the U.S.-Mexico border increased 90 percent between 2013 and 2014, drawing the attention and concern of the U.S. government, media, and public. MPI, which has deep expertise in migration trends and policies in the United States, Mexico, and Central America, is playing a key role explaining the dynamics and trends that have resulted in this spike in child migration. Here, you can find in one place a collection of relevant MPI resources, from analyses of trends and policy developments surrounding this child migration crisis to data and country profiles of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, and recent MPI telebriefings and events to discuss the latest developments.

Unaccompanied Minors Crisis Has Receded from Headlines But Major Issues RemainThis article in MPI's online journal, the Migration Information Source, explores the challenges that remain concerning the fate of tens of thousands of newly arrived children and families now residing in the United States pending immigration court hearings, even as Central American child migrant flows have returned to their precrisis level. Meanwhile, Congress has declined to authorize new funding to address the situation.

Upfront hearings a must to stem tide of border-crossing childrenIn this Dallas Morning News op-ed, MPI U.S. Immigration Policy Program Director Doris Meissner outlines a key policy option to help address the child migration crisis and reduce the likelihood that more children will set off on a dangerous journey: full immigration court hearings much earlier in the process. This step, proposed while the children remain in custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, would decrease their wait time in the U.S. immigration system, expedite the repatriation or family reunification process, and help reverse some of the incentives spurring this migration of vulnerable children.

Dramatic Surge in the Arrival of Unaccompanied Children Has Deep Roots and No Simple SolutionsThis article is a primer on the complicated situation involving unaccompanied minors arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border, overwhelmingly from Central America. The article, which traces the "push" factors that propel the children northward as well as the "pull" factors in the United States—including family reunification and the sometimes unintened consequences of U.S. policy—makes clear the lack of easy solutions to address the complex set of factors driving the rise in arrivals of child migrants.

What Is the Right Policy Toward Unaccompanied Children at U.S. Borders?In the absence of a policy plan to address the surge in unaccompanied child arrivals at the U.S.-Mexico border, simplistic explanations and draconian “solutions” are already surfacing. In reality, the problem is enormously complex and there is no single policy approach that is going to bend the curve on unaccompanied child arrivals. In this MPI commentary, Kathleen Newland, who heads the Institute's humanitarian protection work, explores possible ways forward.

Mexican and Central American Immigrants in the United StatesSince 1970, the immigrant populations from Mexico and Central America living in the United States have increased significantly: rising by a factor of 20 even as the total U.S. immigrant population increased four-fold over the period. This demographic report examines the age, educational, and workforce characteristics of these immigrants.

Immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras in U.S., 2008-2012This data tool allows users to explore where immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras live in the United States, by metropolitan statistical area (MSA). With the majority of unaccompanied minors placed with a parent or other relative pending their immigration court hearing, it is likely that many will live in areas where significant Central American populations are located.

Central American Immigrants in the United StatesSince 1990, the number of Central American immigrants in the United States has nearly tripled. This immigrant population grew faster than any other region-of-origin population from Latin America between 2000 and 2010. This article focuses on a wide range of characteristics of Central American immigrants, including the population's size, geographic distribution, admission categories, and demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.

Honduras: The Perils of Remittance Dependence and Clandestine MigrationHonduras has a population of just over 8 million and an economy primarily driven by exports—propped up in no small way by remittances. This article examines the history of modern Honduran migration, tracing the rise of emigration to the United States as a dominant economic force, and exploring migration trends, policies, and impacts on Honduran society.

Guatemalan Migration in Times of Civil War and Post-War ChallengesDuring recent decades, large-scale international migration has been an external escape valve for Guatemala, a response to the country's multiple internal problems. This article examines Guatemalan migration, primarily to the United States, into the post-war era; U.S. government immigration policies affecting Guatemalans; the impacts of migration within Guatemala; and Guatemala/Mexico migration dynamics.

El Salvador: Despite End to Civil War, Emigration ContinuesThousands of Salvadorans fled the country during its civil war in the 1980s, many of them to the United States. The government is focused on engaging its diaspora but also must deal with immigrants from neighboring countries and issues around human trafficking.

Unaccompanied Minors: A Crisis with Deep Roots and No Simple SolutionsDuring this telebriefing, Doris Meissner and Marc Rosenblum of MPI's U.S. Immigration Policy Program discuss the factors behind the flow of unaccompanied children from Central America and Mexico to the United States, the relevant U.S. policies governing their treatment, and possible solutions to address this rising flow.

A Treacherous Journey: Child Migrants Navigating the U.S. Immigration SystemAt this MPI event, panelists from the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies at UC Hastings and Kids in Need of Defense discuss their findings regarding how unaccompanied children are processed through the U.S. immigration system, along with recommendations for improvements in the process to ensure the protection of these minors.

Links

In the Spotlight

U.S., State, & County Profiles of Unauthorized Immigrants

Want the latest estimates and characteristics of unauthorized immigrants in the United States, including those potentially eligible for relief from deportation? Use this innovative data tool to get population estimates and much more—including countries of origin, recency of arrival, educational enrollment and attainment, industries of employment, incomes, English proficiency, and health care coverage—at the national level, by state, and for top counties.